Šipan (Elaphiti Islands)1 hr 30 min from Dubrovnik
The largest, greenest Elaphiti island — two sleepy harbours (Suđurađ, Šipanska Luka), olive groves and Renaissance summer villas. The classic first-night anchorage north of the city.
The grand entrance
Yacht Charters from Dubrovnik
Sail past the city walls at golden hour, anchor off an Elaphiti pine forest for lunch, and swim in Mljet's national-park lakes before the day trippers arrive. Southern Dalmatia is built for arriving by sea.
Dubrovnik is the Adriatic's most theatrical departure point — the medieval walls rise straight from the water, and clearing the old port under sail is the kind of first hour most charters never top. Then the crowds vanish: the Elaphiti Islands begin twenty minutes out, three green islands with sand coves, garden restaurants and almost no cars, and beyond them Mljet's national park wraps two saltwater lakes in Aleppo pine.
A week from Dubrovnik comfortably reaches Korčula — Marco Polo's walled hometown — and the Pelješac peninsula, whose oyster beds at Ston and Dingač vineyards above the channel give southern Dalmatia the best eating and drinking on the coast. Distances are short, the maestral fills in every afternoon, and every anchorage has history within tender range.
What to look for in the right vessel
Filters we pre-applied to the dubrovnik & the elaphiti islands shortlist below.
The walls from the water
The definitive Dubrovnik view is from a deck — sunset laps past the old port before dinner on board are a nightly ritual.
Elaphiti day one
Koločep, Lopud and Šipan sit within an hour of the marina — sandy Šunj bay, garden konobas, and swimming before your first lunch aboard.
Mljet's lakes
A national park island with two connected saltwater lakes and a 12th-century monastery islet. Anchor off Pomena and cycle or swim it.
Ston oysters & Dingač wine
The Pelješac channel grows Croatia's best oysters and its biggest red. The crew will time the tasting stops.
Shortlisted vessels
See full vessel directory →Finding the right vessels…
When to go
Dubrovnik & the Elaphiti Islands charter season at a glance. Air and sea temperatures are typical daytime values.
| Month | Air | Sea | Crowd | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 23°C | 19°C | Quiet | The south coast green and uncrowded, the Elaphiti empty, Dubrovnik walkable before the cruise-ship peak. Cooler sea, calmest sailing. |
| June | 27°C | 22°C | Moderate | Warm, long days, the afternoon breeze reliable. Mljet's lakes swimmable, the islands lively but not packed. The sweet spot. |
| July | 30°C | 24°C | Peak | High summer — warm sea, busy Dubrovnik, buzzing island bays. Anchor in the Elaphiti and visit the city early. |
| August | 31°C | 25°C | Peak | Hottest and busiest. Superb swimming off Šipan and Lopud; book berths ahead and time the old town for early morning. |
| September | 26°C | 24°C | Moderate | Warm Adriatic, thinning crowds, grape harvest on the Pelješac peninsula. Excellent, gentler sailing. |
| October | 22°C | 22°C | Quiet | Soft light, quiet konobas, warm-enough sea early on. Some bura wind days; a calm, cheaper close to the season. |
MayQuiet
Air 23°C · Sea 19°C
The south coast green and uncrowded, the Elaphiti empty, Dubrovnik walkable before the cruise-ship peak. Cooler sea, calmest sailing.
JuneModerate
Air 27°C · Sea 22°C
Warm, long days, the afternoon breeze reliable. Mljet's lakes swimmable, the islands lively but not packed. The sweet spot.
JulyPeak
Air 30°C · Sea 24°C
High summer — warm sea, busy Dubrovnik, buzzing island bays. Anchor in the Elaphiti and visit the city early.
AugustPeak
Air 31°C · Sea 25°C
Hottest and busiest. Superb swimming off Šipan and Lopud; book berths ahead and time the old town for early morning.
SeptemberModerate
Air 26°C · Sea 24°C
Warm Adriatic, thinning crowds, grape harvest on the Pelješac peninsula. Excellent, gentler sailing.
OctoberQuiet
Air 22°C · Sea 22°C
Soft light, quiet konobas, warm-enough sea early on. Some bura wind days; a calm, cheaper close to the season.
Getting there
DBV · Dubrovnik Airport (Čilipi)
20 km to Dubrovnik · 30 km to ACI Marina (Komolac)
From marina
25–40 min
Transfer
€35–55
Taxi cost
Dubrovnik is well connected in season — direct flights from across the UK, Germany and much of Europe, plus year-round links via Zagreb. Charters board at ACI Marina Dubrovnik, set up the green Ombla river inlet at Komolac, a short transfer from the airport and old town.
Practical info
What you should know
- Mljet National Park
- Entry to Mljet's national park (the western lakes and Polače) carries a per-person fee that covers the park and its boat shuttle to the monastery islet. Budget it in and tell the captain if Mljet is on your route.
- VAT & the euro
- Croatia uses the euro and adds 13% VAT to the charter, normally shown in the price — no currency step ashore.
- APA & berths
- Crewed charters run on an APA of about 20–30% of the base for fuel, food, drinks and berths. Dubrovnik's old-port and marina berths are premium in peak season; the Elaphiti anchorages keep costs sane.
- Winds
- The reliable afternoon maestral is pleasant for summer sailing; the cold northeasterly bura can blow hard, mostly spring and autumn. The sheltered Elaphiti and Mljet give the captain lee-side options in any wind.
- Tipping
- Discretionary, for good service: 5–15% of the charter fee for the crew is the Mediterranean norm, in cash (EUR) to the captain at the end of the week.
Anchorages within reach
Where most week-long itineraries from this port actually go. Sail times are approximate, in fair conditions.
Lopud — Šunj beach1 hr 15 min
A car-free island with one of the Adriatic's rare sandy beaches at Šunj — shallow, warm and perfect for a swim-and-lunch stop before an evening on the palm-lined waterfront.
Mljet National Park — Polače3–4 hrs from Dubrovnik
The forested island's two connected saltwater lakes, with a monastery on an islet in the middle. A protected, sheltered anchorage inside the national park — swim, kayak, cycle the shore.
Koločep (Kalamota)45 min from Dubrovnik
The nearest Elaphiti island — no cars, blue caves along its cliffs, and total quiet a short hop from the city. An easy last night before the airport.
Cavtat45 min south of Dubrovnik
A palm-fringed harbour town below Dubrovnik, close to the airport — a calmer, prettier base for a first or last night than the busy city quay.
Okuklje / Sobra, Mljet3 hrs
Deep, sheltered inlets on Mljet's north side with taverna quays — safe overnight holding and a quiet counterpoint to the national-park end of the island.
Onshore
What to do the day before boarding and after disembarking, plus a short list of restaurants worth the walk.
Day before charter
Dubrovnik's old town is the sightseeing — walk the medieval walls early (before the cruise crowds and the midday heat), lose an hour in the marble Stradun, then dinner in the lanes. Staying in Cavtat instead gives you a calmer harbour minutes from the airport and marina.
Day after disembarking
Flights leave through the day, so a final morning in the old town or a swim off Cavtat is easy. With a spare day, the Pelješac peninsula's vineyards and the oyster beds of Ston (plus its great walls) are an hour up the coast.
Where to eat ashore
- Konoba Kod Marka (Šipan)Island seafood
A family konoba on the Elaphiti — the day's catch and slow-cooked peka, on a terrace over a sleepy harbour.
- Bugenvila (Cavtat)Modern Dalmatian
Waterfront in Cavtat with inventive plates a step above the standard grill — a fine first or last night ashore.
- Stella (Lopud)Seafood
On the car-free island's palm promenade — fresh fish and Pelješac wine with your boat at anchor just offshore.
- Nautika (Dubrovnik)Fine dining
Below the old-town walls with a view of the Lovrijenac fort — the special-occasion dinner in the city itself.
Or consider another port
Same coast, different starting line — the brief case for each alternative.
Split & Hvar →
Central Dalmatia's hub — Hvar's nightlife, the Pakleni Islands and the widest fleet, an easy one-way pairing with Dubrovnik.
The Kornati & Zadar →
Trade island towns for raw nature — 89 mostly-uninhabited islands and a national marine park to the north.
Vis & Korčula →
The least-developed islands — Marco Polo's Korčula and Vis's hidden coves and vineyards, farther offshore.
Frequently asked questions
For dubrovnik & the elaphiti islands.
Where do Dubrovnik charters start?
Most start from ACI Marina Dubrovnik in Komolac (a sheltered river marina 20 minutes from the old town) or Gruž harbour. Dubrovnik airport (DBV) is 30–40 minutes from both.
When is the best season?
May, June and September are ideal — warm sea, open restaurants, and space in the anchorages. July and August are the high-glamour months: expect busy town quays and book moorings ahead, especially off Hvar and Korčula.
Can a week reach Split from Dubrovnik?
Yes — one-way charters Dubrovnik→Split (or reverse) are the classic Dalmatia route: Mljet, Korčula, Hvar and the Pakleni islands on the way. Ask for one-way availability when you inquire; some operators charge a repositioning fee.
Is Dubrovnik good for families?
Very — short hops, sandy Elaphiti coves, the Mljet lakes are calm and shallow at the edges, and the old town is a living history lesson. Crewed catamarans are the family favourite for the deck space.
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